Always a fun summer read, the perfect vacation read. Bestselling author Lisa Scottoline and her daughter, Francesca Serritella consistently hit the funny bone every summer with their essay offering. I Need a Lifeguard touches on so many amusing and candid situations and observations. I enjoy the ladies' takes on all kinds of things from the ridiculous to the poignant. I look forward to their writing every summer.

I did not realize that these were short stories. Not for me

I'm not sure if I say this every time, but this year's collection of essays by mother daughter duo Lisa Scottoline and Francesca Serritella is by far my favorite. Both of their voices reflect the humor found in everyday life, whether dealing with dogs, gardens, men, jobs or home renovation. Every summer, I feel like I know this pair a bit better and only wish they would take their beach book tour into the Midwest.

Although I usually enjoy Lisa Scottoline's books, I didn't find this one funny.

Let me start by saying I am a HUGE fan of Lisa Scottoline's thrillers hence why I requested 'Everyone needs a life guard everywhere but the pool'

Yes it's a very different genre going from thriller to comedy but I loved her writing so much and enjoy comedy. I thought.. What could go wrong?

I DNF @ 56% it is probably the cringiest (don't care if that's not a word) thing I have ever read. I actually loved the concept of a mother and daughter rotating every few pages telling funny stories about their life and experiences. It went wrong for me in the fact the stories were not funny and felt so forced. It's like the kid at school who tries too hard to be funny.

I don't recommend this book to anyone but please don't let it put you off Scottline's thrillers as they are great! I thought maybe being in my mid 20s my sense of humour is just too dry and rude but then I thought of my mum and gran and I know they wouldn't find it amusing either.

I received an ARC from netgalley in return for an honest review.

I always enjoy these mother/daughter books by these talented writers. The subject matter is so true-to-life and the stories go from laugh-out-loud funny to thoughtful.

Whenever I read one of these books, I think of the cheesy magazines with pictures of celebrities and the heading "They're Just Like Us'

Very entertaining book

I am not a short story collection fan. I like a storyline, a set of characters, and an ending. I Need a Lifeguard Everywhere But the Pool changed my mind on everything I thought I needed. I read this on a plane and caught myself laughing out loud, smiling, and cringing at the stories. They are told in separate chapters by both Lisa and Francesca.

There were numerous times that I could relate to what was happening in their lives. The reactions to different events were so real that I could see myself in their stories. I found it fun to get a glimpse into the author’s lives and see that they are normal, real, everyday people. The situations they find themselves in are the same as their readers.

Reading I Need a Lifeguard Everywhere But the Pool made both Lisa and Francesca seem more like my friends. I believe both these amazing ladies would fit in perfectly with my friends and family.

Thank you Jordan Hanley at St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley for a copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.

These books are just a lot of fun. I have read quite a few of these books by Lisa Scottoline and her daughter, Francesca Serritella, and have really enjoyed all of them. The stories in this book are each very short and can be read in a couple of minutes but are highly addictive. I couldn't seem to read just a few of the stories but found myself reading this book like it was a marathon or something. I just cannot get enough of these glimpses into Lisa and Francesca's lives.

I found it so easy to relate to Lisa and Francesca. Lisa Scottoline is an author that I really enjoy and have been reading for a number of years. While I was at one of Lisa's book signings, another fan recommend that I read the books in this series. So I did and the rest is history. Though these books I really feel like I have had the chance to really get to know Lisa and Francesca. I feel almost like I could pull up a chair at their table for a nice chat because they have really let me into their lives through these books. In the previous books in the series, I found myself relating to Lisa much more than Francesca but I this book I think it has evened out a bit. Maybe it is because Francesca didn't really talk about dating as she has in previous books because she is on a hiatus from men. I am an old married woman and barely remember dating so I am happy to read about other things.

This book covers a little bit of everything. Seriously everything. There are stories about yoga, bridal showers, snakes, dogs, doggy diapers, family members, building furniture, remote controls, exercise equipment, buying trucks, and the list goes on. Really these stories are just about navigating through life and all of the things that are encountered on a daily basis. These stories are told with a good dose of humor and many mentions of Bradley Cooper. Lisa has a series thing for Bradley Cooper. Not all of the stories are pretty and some made me squirm. Hello...snakes!! Some stories were more serious and heartfelt but all of them were very real.

I would highly recommend this book to others. I think that just about any woman that has made it to adulthood will find something to relate to in this book. I can't wait to read more of their work in the future.

I received an advance reader edition of this book from St. Martin's Press via NetGalley.

I enjoyed this book because it was funny and both authors write with such detail. While I wish some of the essays were longer, I flew through this and LOL'd many times.

This is written in short story form as are the other books that Lisa Scottoline and Francesca Serritella write together. Some of them are laugh out loud funny. I'm afraid that I am going to wake up my husband as I read at night. Also makes me wish I had a life half as exciting as Lisa's but I have 2 cats, no dogs. Some of the stories are relatable as I am about the same age and have gone through those wonderful/horrible changes Lisa and Francesca tell it like it is and that is quite refreshing and told with some comedy doesn't hurt.

Lisa and Francesca are back with another great collection of humorous real life essays. As a mother-daughter, best friend duo, I could easily relate to all of these stories as my mother is one of my best friends. However, I think almost anyone could find something to relate to here. My personal favorite was Lisa's piece on how she finds the 70MPH speed limit on the PA Turnpike absolutely terrifying. I know that white knuckle grip on the steering wheel all to well from visiting friends in PA. Lisa's take on that popular twisty fitness board also made me snort with laughter as mine is currently parked under a lounge chair in my living room. Fortunately no one will experience any buyers remorse from purchasing "I Need a Lifeguard Everywhere but the Pool." Pick up a copy at your local bookstore or favorite online retailer.

First a huge thanks to StMartin for passing me this arc, second of course to Lisa and Fran for such an amazing book! I need laughed so hard, ever. It was so close to read life it scared me. People (such as myself) actually do these things. In fact we do them a little too often.
I love Lisa's alter ego books, but this was my first treat to mother/daughter and am over the top crazy for this. Telling all my friends they need to read this, especially with summer here and the kids home, there are Moms out there who need comic relief. This book totally fits the bill.
Ladies, I bow humbly to you! Bravo!! Now I am hooked!

**arc from NetGalley and St Martins Press in exchange for a fair review**

This is the second book by this mother and daughter team that I've read. Comprised of short anecdotes or commentary, it makes perfect beach or commuter read. The two cover every subject under the sun that might be of interest to American women of the mainstream: there's aging, and being a thirty-something, sports, the election (their hope was painful to read in retrospect), and the dream of owning a white picket fence. While aware of the status of 'white picket fence' in American lore.

But they also explore the inexplicables of modern life: owning an iPhone, nude dining (yes, apparently it's a thing), when to wear a bra and when not to bother, dieting, dog ownership, the excruciating "games" at bridal showers, weird stuff you find on the Internet, and the etiquette of Twitter. Male birth control. Weird super foods, and how big butts are supposed to be a sign of longevity. Some of these will cause a snicker, at least they did for me.

Here and there you get a glimpse of the writing life, which I enjoyed even though my process couldn't be more different (Lisa likes the sound of the TV running, which would drive me insane), and between the snickers there are thoughtful anecdotes, and one lovely one about taking the summer ferry to Ellis Island.

Mostly, though, it's quick reads aimed unapologetically at a female audience. Odd ducks as we all are, or feel ourselves to be (I cringed in sympathy at the one about attending a big publisher party, at which you know no one), there is a solidarity in fellow-feel.

First, let me say that Lisa Scottoline is one of my favorite authors. I particularly love her humorous essays she writes with her daughter Francesca. This one was another great one. It appealed to me both as a woman and as a woman "of a certain age." These books make me realize that there is a bigger world out there where women just like me have the same or similar joys, heartbreaks, idiosyncrasies and insecurities. The author pokes fun at herself, therefore helping us understand that these things are not so important! I love her tales of driving on the PA turnpike. I almost fell off my chair laughing. There are so many great stories here by both authors that it was a lot of fun to read. Highly recommended!

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin Press for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review.

I NEED A LIFEGUARD EVERYWHERE BUT THE POOL - Lisa Scottoline and Francesca Serritella

FUN AND FUNNER - 4.5 stars

#8 in The Amazing Adventures of an Ordinary Woman series

Plot - 4.5 stars - This series is so much fun. Lisa and Francesca feel like old friends since they have shared so much of themselves and their philosophies. They look at life in a positive and upbeat way, for the most part, with the added twist of a silly turn of phrase or funny point of view. This series of brief "essays" covers a wide range of subjects, showing each woman's variety of interests. They may be related to each other, they may not, but each is its own little story and complete in itself.

Writing - 4.5 stars - I just love the mother/daughter team of Scottoline and Francesca Serritella. They have the gift of telling a story in a fun and entertaining way, but often with a message. They never offer their opinion (as evidenced with the election discussions), but they discuss a topic in a general way that can't possibly offend anyone. And their way with words just makes me laugh. Their ability to manipulate a common phrase into something clever and fun always impresses me. (For example, Francesca was talking about a pre-nup, but she referred to custody of her dog and called it a pre-pup.) That sort of thing makes me smile and laugh throughout.

Characters - 4.5 stars - I guess the characters of this book are Lisa and Francesca themselves. They share bits of their lives, their thoughts, their philosophies. I couldn't come up with anything funny about my ordinary life, but they look at ordinary things and make them fun and entertaining. That's a wonderful gift.

Title - 4 stars - Although the titles to the books in this series rarely have much to do with the actual essays, this one fits a little better. They all seem to revolve around life's moments and how Lisa and Francesca try to handle them.

Cover - 4 stars - Cute cover showing a plastic alligator just like one you'd find in a pool. But I suppose it could refer to the phrase describing life as "up to your a$$ in alligators."

Overview - 4.5 stars - This is a very enjoyable read. Each of the short, often unrelated essays tells a story and in a very entertaining way. Even when the subject is a little more serious or thought-provoking, both authors have a way of sharing it light-heartedly but without judgment. I love that they share pieces of themselves and often provide an uplifting piece of advice or bit of wisdom that they learned from the experience.

I Need a Lifeguard Everywhere but the Pool by Lisa Scottoline and Francesca Serritella is a fun read. It is a series of essay written by Lisa and her daughter Francesca. Each chapter is a new essay that range from poignant to humorous. Some are memories while others are small snippets of life looked at in various ways. A wonderful read with an eye toward those moment we often share with those we love.

My review can be found at my blog address, which I have attached here:
https://foxtrevert.wordpress.com/2017/07/10/i-need-a-lifeguard-everywhere-but-the-pool/

Thank you St. Martin's Press and Netgalley for the opportunity to review this book!

I love these books, written by the funniest mother/daughter duo of all time, Lisa Scottoline and Francesca Serritella. These stories will make you laugh, nod your head in commiseration, laugh, shake your head because you have done some of those same things too, and did I say laugh?

I will have to admit this early, I have yet to read one of these kinds of books by Lisa Scottoline and her daughter Francesca Serritella, even though I own almost all of them, I just hadn't read them and when I was pitched this book to review I decided I had to do it!

In a few of the essays I will say that Lisa specifically hinted at stories from the past and as this was my first read of theirs I felt a little left out, not enough to not laugh and get the moral of the story, but just felt as though I was missing a little piece.

There were some essays or stories that literally made me laugh out loud and even to the point of laugh crying, as a dog person, I tended to absolutely adore the stories where dogs were involved. I was also a bit partial to Francesca's stories because we are close to the same age, so I related to her stories and was saying ME TOO during a lot of her stories.

Although, I didn't read this on a beach but instead in fits and spurts and here and there, I think this would be a perfect addition to your beach bag. The quick essays allow you to read and pay attention if you have a little one frolicking in the sand or floating in the pool. Of course the cover is even perfect to lounge by the side of the pool with!

After reading this one, I will definitely be picking up the other ones and quick, I want to see the stories that I was missing and get to know these two better.

I couldn't get past the first few chapters. It just didn't hold my attention.